Drug Oriented Clinical Research on Amoebic Dysentery

Abstract

Background: Wide prevalence of Amoebiasis in tribal areas formed the basis of selection of amoebic dysentery as a research problem. Aims: The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of a group of partially proved drugs/or lesser known drugs for Amoebic dysentery. Setting and design: This study was undertaken at Dimapur (1985), ltanagar, Dandeli, Agartala (1988), Jeypore, Khongjom (1990), Gangtok (1991) and concluded in March 2003. Materials and Methods: Clinically diagnosed cases of Amoebic dysentery were selected out of patients reporting in general O.PD. for treatment. The prescription was based on the symptom similarity of the disease picture presented by the patients with that of the known pathogenetic action of the assigned drugs. Results- Cynodon dactylon, Trombidium, Atista indica, Ficus indica, Emetine, Holarrhena antidysenterica, Raphanus, Leptandra, Alstonia constricta in variable potencies have been found effective in controlling/preventing Amoebic dysentery.However Asclepias tuberosa, Ambrosia, Helleborus were found to be less indicated and the number of cases in whom they were prescribed is too less to draw definitive conclusion. 1 drug, Silphium was not found effective in treatment of patients. Conclusion: Effectiveness of the homoeopathic drugs used empirically and rarely is not properly documented. The results testify their positive role in Amoebic dysentery but needs further confirmation on large trial with strict guidelines of the protocol including laboratory parameters.